Service area

The service area runs along the Gulf from Destin east to Panama City Beach, across three counties. Only two of the ten places listed here are cities. The other eight sit in unincorporated Walton County, so the county handles their permits.

Destin

The City of Destin, not Okaloosa County, permits work inside city limits. Applications go through the My Government Online (MGO) portal with Destin selected as the jurisdiction. The city's homeowner permitting FAQ says a permit is required for patios, walkways, accessory buildings, and retaining walls, and for any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work the Florida Building Code regulates. It also says pavers and other new impervious surfaces need a permit.

Before you apply in Destin:

• A simple permit needs a scaled site plan showing structures, property lines, and setbacks. The city does not accept aerial photos.
• A foundation survey is required for foundations of 100 square feet or more.
• Flood questions go to the Engineering Department within Community Development.

Okaloosa Gas District lists Destin among the communities it serves.

Miramar Beach and the 30A communities

Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, WaterColor, Seaside, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach all fall under Walton County. Walton's own FAQ describes two steps: review by the Planning and Development Services Department, then building permitting by the Building Department. South of Choctawhatchee Bay, the county wants a building permit or development order in place before any land clearing or alteration.

The county's building permit checklist adds several requirements that shape an outdoor kitchen:

• Construction under 100 square feet that isn't coastal needs no plans. Anything larger needs signed and sealed plans.
• Inside the coastal construction zone, a Florida registered architect or engineer must stamp and seal the plans.
• Plans must include the Walton County Wind Load Statement, and a flood zone statement if the property sits in a flood zone.
• The general setbacks are 20 feet front, 15 feet back, and 7.5 feet on each side. Confirm the setbacks for your lot with the planning office before you draw a layout.

Coastal dune lakes. Walton County counts 15 named coastal dune lakes along 26 miles of coastline. Western Lake is one of them. The county checklist sets a 100-foot setback from a coastal lake, and the county asks owners to call before any land alteration near one.

Association rules. Seaside's architectural regulations prohibit permanent grills along frontages, and WaterColor's Design Review Board takes submittals for hardscape changes. Owners in Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach should ask their property owners' association for its current guidelines. The HOA guide goes further.

Gas. Okaloosa Gas District lists Miramar Beach, Rosemary Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach among the communities it serves. For the other 30A communities, ask the utility.

Panama City Beach

Inside city limits, the City of Panama City Beach Building Division reviews plans, issues permits, and inspects structures from sheds to high-rise condominiums. A Panama City Beach mailing address doesn't always mean a city parcel. The city says properties outside its limits go to a different jurisdiction, and the Bay County Property Appraiser record shows "Tax Area: 13" for city parcels.

Two city rules matter for outdoor kitchens. A recorded Notice of Commencement must reach the Building Department before inspections once the direct contract price passes $5,000 ($15,000 for mechanical work). And the city won't issue owner-builder permits for property owned by an LLC or a trust, or for improvements to condominium units.

Gulf-front lots everywhere

On sandy Gulf beaches in all three counties, the state's coastal construction control line applies. Florida law bars new structures seaward of the line without authorization from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), either a permit or an exemption determination. Walton County's long-standing handout says it won't issue building permits seaward of the line without a DEP Notice to Proceed or Exemption Determination. The flood and coastal guide explains the line and the federal V-zone rule.

For how kitchens are laid out and built in this climate, see layouts and materials. To reach a local contractor, send a request.